Middle Sugarloaf (2,539 ft) & North Sugarloaf (2,310 ft) 7-31-22

Distance: 4.28 mi.
Elevation: 873 ft. (overall) 1,249 ft. (total)
Time: (with an 8 and 4 year setting the pace) 1:49 (Middle Sugarloaf) 3:03 (North Sugarloaf) 4:20 (Total)
Trails: Sugarloaf Trail, Trestle Trail

This summer my youngest daughter (4) has been asking about doing a family hike so she can come along and do a mountain with her sister and I. So at the end of a week off, we all headed to the White Mountain to take Middle and North Sugarloaf. I have been her before, so I was pretty confident our youngest could handle it and would enjoy the hike. For her it would be the first on the NH 52 With a View list. For her older sister, it would be number 6.

After getting to the trail head and getting our gear on, we hit the trail with the girls in the lead. I wanted them to set the pace because I know I can set to fast of a pace and I wanted them both to enjoy it. They both did good, but a new pack for Liliana (our oldest) and new (to her at least) gear for Madison (our youngest) meant many things were a novelty and it went a bit slow and frustrating at times. There was lots along the trail for the girls to check out, so that helped in keeping them moving on to the next thing.

Two little hikers ready to go

Madison and Liliana in front of a glacial erratic

The girls got to choose which peak we went to first, and they wanted to go to the higher one. This meant going left at the intersection and hitting Middle Sugarloaf first. At the top the girls took off their shoes and socks and enjoyed the sun, nice temps, and plenty of snacks before exploring the whole summit area.

Madison at the top of the stairs on Middle Sugarloaf

Madison and Liliana on top of the stairs

View from Middle Sugarloaf

Madison enjoying herself at the summit

View north on Middle Sugarloaf

Eventually we moved on to North Sugarloaf so the girls could see that peak as well. It isn't as big or as open, but it is still worth the visit in my opinion.

Their own bottles of trail mix were a hit today

Zealand Valley from North Sugarloaf

Family photo time

In the end the hike went well for everyone. As we do a few more hikes with Madison the novelty of all the gear and snacks will wear off and she can focus a bit more on the actual hike. She had fun though, and still had plenty of energy on the hike back down. This was a great pick for her first bigger hike and would be good for others with younger kids too. Lots of other happy hikers along the trail encouraged both girls along the way and were glad to see more young hikers enjoying the trails.

Google Earth representation of the hike

For more pictures from the hike, click HERE

Mt. Kearsarge (2,937 ft) 7-14-19

Distance: 2.842 mi.
Elevation: 1,138 ft (overall) 1,150 ft (total)
Time: 2:42 (Summit) 5:20 (Total) -- With a 5 year old setting the pace
Trails: Winslow Trail, Barlow Trail

A family hike to in order to climb a mountain all together and check off another peak for Liliana on the NH 52 With a View list. I've done this peak before so I knew it was something everyone can handle. I choose to go up the Barlow Trail and down the Winslow Trail because I know from past experience that coming down the steep rocky section of the Barlow Trail would be slow going for a 5 year old with short legs.

The Winslow Trail starts off without much difficulty making for a nice warm-up at the beginning. As the trail goes up it does start to get rougher with more rocks and in places roots. It then becomes steep and quite rocky for a little bit. The footing is still good here and you can navigate the trail without having to climb up and over anything too large.

Liliana climbing up the roots of a tree to get over the rocks

The rockiest section of the Winslow Trail

After the steep rocky section the trail starts to do some gradual switchbacks to keep it from getting too steep. The trail now stays rocky and goes over some interesting sections of rock slabs before coming up out if the trees. The two trails will join back up with each other at a wooden sign shortly before the summit. Go to the right to make it the rest of the way up. When we were here the cabin of the fire tower was currently being rebuilt. It was just the framed in floor and walls, but it seemed that you could still go up it. There wasn't anything advising people against it.

Liliana leading the way up some rock slabs along the trail

View from the unfinished summit fire tower

View to the southeast

Liliana having a snack in a makeshift chair

The fire tower cabin is currently being rebuilt

View to the northwest

Madison having fun at the summit

After having some fun at the summit and spending plenty of time taking in the views, we headed back down. We knew it would be slower going with little kids and we didn't want them getting two tired and hungry before we could get them somewhere for supper. The Barlow Trail isn't as steep or as rocky to come down, but it is longer. Liliana was getting tired by the time we got down, but almost the entire length of trail was easy enough for her to climb down that she didn't need help. Only holding someone's hand a couple times to stay steady on some smooth rocks.

One of the views coming down the Barlow Trail

This is a nice little hike with great views at the summit. It is and would be great to do as a family hike as it isn't super long. If you wanted to do an even shorter version you could come up from the other side and have even less of a climb to do.

Google Earth representation of the hike

For all the pictures from the hike, just go to my gallery on SmugMug